History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

382 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1776.
guide. The weather turning cold, they were able to cross the lake on
the ice, landing just below Grand Isle, then uninhabited. In crossing
the lake from Colchester Point they put up a pole with a blanket, and
the wind being favorable they went swiftly across the lake to the
White House, nearly opposite the lower part of Grand Isle. Only one
house was seen there, and that appeared to be tenantless.
" Cook and eight or ten others were detailed as an advanced guard,
and went forward about five miles, to Dutchman's Point. The lake
was open, and they embarked in batteaux, and went to St. Johns and
Chamblee. At St. Johns were a few huts and a large stone house, below
St. Johns were a few French settlers. Between the latter place and
Chamblee he stayed at a Frenchman's house. At Chamblee was a fort
and quite a village. Here at the foot of the falls they came upon a
company of Americans ; Lucius Knight was among them. They remained
at this place till the rest of the company came up. French
horses and trains (sleighs), were hired and the party went down the
Sorel and St. Lawrence rivers, on the ice. French trains would carry
but five or six men each, and were but little better than a stone boat.
The drivers wore red caps, and were full of gabble, and the horses
heads were decorated with tassels. They traveled about sixty miles a
day, and reached Three Rivers on the second day, making but one stop
on the way. A halt was made at this place ; it was Palm Sunday, and
there was a procession of good Catholics with priests bearing branches
of trees instead of palms. The march was continued, sometimes by
land, and sometimes on the river, to the Plains of Abraham, where
they arrived on the 3'' of April. The snow was very deep. About a
mile from Quebec, they crossed the St. Charles river to the village of
Shelibo, five miles from the city on the west. Here they found under
the command of Capt. Stoddard, a company, among which the small
pox was raging. The entire company, on their arrival, was inoculated.
Having no surgeon, they inoculated themselves. No medicine was to
be had except boiled butternut bark and Swede syrup and pills.
"About the 10"> of April, after the soldiers had been inoculated and
before they were sick, the company was ordered to the Plains of Abraham
in the night, to clear away the snow which was about six feet
deep. They marched on the crust, cleared a small spot, and returned
to their former camp in the morning. The soldiers now began to be
sick, and with no conveniences or comforts, were compelled to care for
each other. William Dada of Southampton, not having been inocula-
ted, died there.
" During the last days of April, several companies of soldiers arrived
in the vicinity of Quebec, Col. Porter commanding the regiment. In
it was a company under Capt. Josiah Lyman of Bek-hertowii, another
under Capt. Alexander of Northfield, and a third under Capt. Chapin
of Springfield. Capt. Wheeler of Vermont also commanded a company.
"On the 5^'' of May, a British fleet appeared in the harbor of Quebec,
and orders were issued for an immediate retreat. Some of the soldiers
had not recovered, and many were yet weak. Four men were left be-